Gasparrelli Takes 801 Racing to Finals in Houston

Courtesy of Gasparrelli Racing

Baytown, TX – Steve Gasparrelli likes racing at the Houston stop on the NHRA series schedule. This past weekend at the O’Rilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals, Gasparrelli took his ECS/801 Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car all the way to the finals. Although he didn’t win the race, Gasparrelli believes things could have worked out differently. 

“I feel like we left some on the table,” said Gasparrelli. “Our car ran very well. You have to hand it to Jay Payne. He really stepped up in the finals. At the 2002 Houston race, I beat Jay to win the race. In 2004, he beat me. I believe next time we race each other in a Houston final, it’s my turn to win.”

Gasparrelli’s consistent qualifying numbers settled him in the number four slot with a best time of 5.640/259.61. That paired him up against Todd Veney in the first round of eliminations. Gasparrelli laid down his best ET to this point with a stout 5.621/259.76 to beat a tire-shaking Veney. In Sunday’s second round, Kris Hool got the starting line advantage, but Gasparrelli’s top end charge and his 5.651/258.86 was enough to defeat Hool’s 5.685/257.24. In the semi-finals, Tony Bartone lay in wait. Gasparrelli’s Team knew they had to be on their game, and as the two cars left the line glued together, Gasparrelli edged out the close win with a 5.664/257.92 over Bartone’s 5.671/261.37.

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